First Grade First Graders enjoyed two stories that support DEI work in the Lower School, The Colors of Us by Karen Katz and All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka. Teachers facilitated conversations through the stories about our varying and beautiful skin tones. Students then created self-portraits, focusing on accurately capturing our differences and similarities.
Fourth Grade Our fourth graders recently engaged in a series of rich discussions on the topic of community. After defining a community as a place where people can live, work, and play, students began to ponder what communities they belonged to. Student responses were diverse, including groups that represented their ethnicity or culture, religious affiliation, school, sports teams and hobbies, neighborhoods, and even favorite local businesses.
After identifying these communities, students then brainstormed how they could support the ones they belong to. One student stated that they can try their best or volunteer their time when thinking of their soccer club. Another student suggested helping in the community garden of their church or picking up trash. A discussion about race began as students identified that that was one community that you are born into and don’t have the choice to select. A student reflected aloud that although he is part of the African-American community, he didn’t know how he could show support besides protesting. To this point, a peer remarked how important it is to hear the perspectives and experiences of our peers to fully understand and appreciate varying life experiences, and how this relates to the color of our skin.
The last discussion posed the question of how can we support communities that we are not a part of. This challenged the students to think outside themselves and even their own communities. A few hands went up after someone mentioned the pandemic. They had said they had written cards for doctors and nurses or donated clothes and toys to people in shelters. The central theme of kindness wove its way through their answers as all agreed the number one way to show support to anyone, whether in your community or not, was to be kind.
Fifth Grade Fifth Graders talked about communities that have united during COVID and communities who have been negatively affected. Students brainstormed some ways in which they can help their own communities, as well as ones they do not belong to.
After an extensive international search, Head of School Michael G. Turner announced the appointment of Chantra Reinman as Shipley’s next Head of Middle School, effective July 1, 2023.
In the Lower School Student Council, fourth and fifth graders hone leadership skills like collaboration, public speaking, and planning as they help with divisional assemblies and other student-led initiatives, while serving as student representatives at admissions events and more. Though the group is diverse, they all have one thing in common: a desire to give back to Shipley.
Shipley's Middle School Boys' and Girls' Squash teams competed at the National Squash Championships in Philadelphia, finishing ninth and 20th, respectively.
Congratulations to Shipley senior Zion Alexis ’23 for receiving numerous awards in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by Philadelphia Writing Project, including a Gold Key for his poem, "black boy, PREP SCHOOL." Read the poem and learn more about Zion, his interest in creative expression, and how Shipley has pushed him to grow as a writer in this Q&A.
Head of School Michael Turner announced that Rebekah Adens will be Shipley’s next Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, effective July 1, 2023.
Middle School science teacher Ace Schwarz was one of 10 educators selected to participate in the 2023 NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP), which partners small groups of educators with a research astronomer for original, year-long, authentic research projects.
On Saturday, December 3, Shipley’s Upper School Science Olympiad team participated in the 2nd Annual Dick Smith Memorial Invitational. Competing in the B Division, Shipley’s Upper School team finished 31 out of 74 teams. Several students also placed in individual events.
Chess team members Srijan Velamuri ’23 and Adithi Srinivasan ’25 earned first and second places, respectively, at the Interscholastic Chess Tournament, hosted by Shipley on December 9, 2022.
What happens when you combine passion, professional learning, and appreciation of beauty and excellence? You get a teacher who brings enthusiasm and energy to her classroom and students who learn while doing. Learn more about how Middle School Latin teacher Anne Smith shares her passion for mosaics, Roman history, and the Latin language with her students through multiple modalities.
It’s common to associate colors with emotions, as Kathryn Otoshi does in her book, One. Dr. Harley Givler asked his third grade students to imagine what the book's characters and their emotions would sound like as a musical composition. The third graders performed the composition for their PreK Book Buddies, sharing lessons in emotions, tolerance, and being an upstander, as well as inspiring a love of music.
On Friday, December 2, Shipley hosted the Philadelphia Area Math League for Independent Schools 2022 Playoffs. As a result, the Gators finished fifth out of ten teams in the group category and Bambi Tang ‘23 finished first in the individual category.
You can see Lower School Art Teacher Bonnie Goldstein's new work in "Beyond Boundaries" an exhibit on display at 705 West Printshop + Gallery in Jenkintown. An opening reception is being held on Sunday, December 4 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm.
With over 70 clubs and activities to choose from, Shipley's Upper School students can enjoy a broad range of areas to discover and develop their passions and interests. Student writer Andrew McCarthy ’23 shares details about six of them in this article, originally published in the December 2022 issue of the Beacon, the Upper School student newspaper.
After rigorous auditions, five Shipley musicians have been accepted into auditioned choral and band ensembles including the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Chorus, the American Choral Directors Association National Honors Choir, and the Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band.
Catch Theater Director Phillip Brown as he stars in the Lantern Theater Company’s Philadelphia premiere production of The Royale by Marco Ramirez, onstage through December 11, 2022, at St. Stephen’s Theater.
As we head into the holiday season, it is important to remember to help those who struggle with food insecurity. To address this issue in our local community, The Shipley School organizes a yearly Turkey Drive that takes place in November. Read more about Shipley's annual Turkey Drive in this article, originally published in the November 2022 issue of Shipley's student newspaper, the Beacon.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.